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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREF? 

WESSTED.N.Y.  !45B0 

(rio)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographicaily  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


n 


Couverture  endommag6e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

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rnais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

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Pages  damaged/ 
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□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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'/ 


D 


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Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  d^tach^es 

Showthrough/ 
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Includes  supplementary  materia 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

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r~7|  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


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t( 


T 

P 
o 


G 
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tl 

si 
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fi 
si 
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Ti 

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ril 
re 
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Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
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obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


24X 


28.< 


32X 


tails 
i  du 
odifier 
une 
mage 


Th«  copy  filmad  hers  has  ba«n  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Diviston 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covers  ara  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  A!i 
other  original  copias  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  -^  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  images  suivantes  ont  4tA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  ta  condition  at 
da  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaira  filmA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Las  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  da  reduction  diffArants. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaira.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
;o 


nelure, 
1  A 


1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1       ♦  ^     : 

I      5 

6 

^e 


CoLlectio/h 


H 


-6 


. 


% 


SPEECH 


OF 


HON.  D.  WILMOT,  OF  PENNSYLVANIA, 


ON 


THE    OREGON    QUESTION. 


DELIVERED 


EN  THfi  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  7,  184C.' 


i 
I* 


WASHINGTON: 

BLAIR  &  RIVES,  PRINTERS. 

1846. 


/i 


I     Wf 


^ 


THE    OREGON   QUESTION. 


I 


Tlic  TJrsoliilion  from  ilip  Cnmniittce:  on  Forriirn 
All'iirs,  rdiiiiirinu:  th''  PrcsidiMit  tii  notify  Grciit 
Eritiiin  of  tlio  intpiition  of  tlio  Uiiitrd  Stiitcs  to 
tcrniiiiatt'  tlic  joint  ocrii|ii\ncv  of  Orcir'ni,  and  to 
ahroiratf  tlin  rr)nvrnti(iM  of  1>*'2T.  licinu;  nnder 
consideration  in  C'omniittrc  of  tlic  Whole — 

Mr.  WILMOT  addressed  t!ic  connnilteo  as  fol- 
lows: 

Mr.  CnAiRMAv:  I  am  ronsrin'a'<,  from  tlic  lcnL!:tli 
of  time  already  o('rn|)i(>d  in  tl.  ^  deliaie,  that  it  lias 
lost  mii'di  of  its  fres'uifss  and  oi-i.,nnal  interest  to 
tlie  nieinliers  of  this  House,  if  riot  also  to  the  jieo- 
ple  and  the  eoiiiitry  at  !ari:;o.  I  do  not  flatter  in\'- 
sclf  that  I  shall  lie  ahli?  to  rcnive  any  ]iortioti  of 
that  interest,  by  advancinrr,  at  this  lato  day,  after 
tlie  sniijeet  has  passed  throu'^h  so  many  older  aiul 
abler  hands,  anything:  that  shall  be  new,  toiiehinc; 
(hither  our  litlc  to  the  ()re;,'on,  or  as  to  the  jiroliable 
consequences  that  may  arise  from  the  assertion  of 
that  title  at  the  ]iresent  time  and  in  tlie  manner 
proposed.  After  the  aide  manner  in  whie.h  our  title 
has  been  dis  -ussed  by  those  who  have,  eondiieied 
this  ne'jfotiation  on  the  part  of  our  Government, 
and  after  all  the  facts  that  have  been  brona:ht  to 
view  liy  the  labored  reseandi  of  j^entlemen  who 
have  spolcen  u|ion  this  floor,  it  would  be  idle  tor 
me  to  expert  that  I  eriuid  shell  additional  Vvj^hi  over 
this  sui)jeet.  I  shall  not  inrur  the  risk  to  which 
smdi  an  effin-t  wouhl  expose  me. 

I  was  anxious  to  obtain  the  llooral  an  early  sta'::r 
in  this  debate,  and  made,  as  I  thouiilit  at  the  time, 
some  very  cood  efrbrls  in  that  direction.  I  failed, 
however,  douiilless  from  the  f  )rce  of  fixed  laws — 
not  beiny  able  to  rise  as  quick,  or  jrct  up  as  lii_:li, 
fiS5:entlemen  of  less  ^•ravitatin'i■  properiiesthan  my- 
self I  have  it  no.v;  and  souirlit  it  at  this  time  not 
(>o  much  tVom  a  desire  to  participate  in  the  conflict 
of  opinion  tiiat  lias  trrown  out  of  this  sulqect,  as 
from  an  earnest  anxiety,  before  the  debate  sliould 
be  brouL'^ht  to  a  final  termination,  to  animmice  my 
cheerfid  support  of  tlie  resolution  upon  your  tnbh', 
and  my  cordial  and  heartv  concurrenci'  in  a'l  the 
recommeiidnli.ms  contained  in  the  President 's  Mcs- 
sa:;e  relating;:  to  this  important  and  deiqdy-interest- 
iii:r  subject. 

1  would  prefer  the  passajje  of  the  resolution  as 
it  came,  from  the  Committee  on  Fohmi,'!!  Relntions, 
without  amendment,  and  without  (|ualificatioii. 
While  .such  is  my  preference,  I  would  here  say, 


that  I  have  none,  or  very  sliicht  objeriions,  to  that 
amendment  which  propuses  to  leave  the  <,m\  iiiu:  of 
notice  discretionary  with  tin;  Ih-esident.  Not  that 
T  desire  to  cast  from  iriy  shoulders  any  responsibil- 
ity in  tiiis  matter;  much  less,  to  throw  iino)i  the 
President  any,  not  [iroperly  beloni:iiif;-  to  his  hi,ah 
station.  1  do  not  believe  that  he  would  feel  the 
liiirdfU  of  such  responsibility;  and  1  have  full  con- 
fidence, if  left  to  him,  that  the  notice  would  be 
prom))lly  i^iven.  I  will  con.sent  to  waive  objections 
of  a  more  weii^hty  cliara<'ter,  and  vote  for  the  reso- 
lu'ion  introduced  by  the  i^entleman  from  South  Ca- 
roliiia,  \'\\i-.  Pi.^fiv,]  if  thereby  we  can  secure  that 
unanimity  so  desir.ible  on  a  ^nat  national  c|uestion 
like  this.  Still,  my  own  choice  would  be  the  i>as- 
^alre  of  the  oria:iiiMl  resolution.  I'  woLdd  jirefer 
^ivini^  the  straiulilforward  notice  to  dissolve  the 
convention  of  H*:l~,  leavin^;-  Eniiland  to  put  her 
own  inter|)retation  ujion  it.  She  wotdd  have  no  rit;ht 
to  place  ujion  it  an  unfiiv'ndly  construction.  iS'or 
would  I  slop  upon  the  ^jiviiii,'-  of  the  notice:  I 
would  also  pros  ide  lor  carrying:  out  prf)mptly  all 
of  the  reconnncndntions  of  the  President  r(datin.u; 
to  this  subject.  To  each  and  every  of  them  I  yield 
the  unreserved  sanction  and  supj)ort  of  my  judj;- 
ment;  and  that,  too,  whether  our  title  to  the  whole 
of  Oreo;on  be  clear  and  unquestioiiable,  or  whether 
it  be  involved  in  doubt  and  uncertainly,  either  as 
to  the  whole  or  a  y-nvt. 

]\bist  of  those  i^entlemen  from  the  South  with 
whom  I  liftld  a  general  n2;reement  in  politics,  and 
who  addressed  tlie  committee  in  opposition  to  the 
resolution  in  the  earlier  stai;e  of  this  debate,  ad- 
mitted, in  the  broadest  and  most  unf(ualincd  terms, 
that  our  title  to  Orei^on,  and  to  the  wlude  of  Ore- 
^'011  to  !')i'^  W,  was  clear  and  indisputable — be- 
yond ri^ditful  questiim  or  f  lii- cmitrovc  rsy.  Those 
who  liave  spoken  more  recently — doubtless  ;;entle- 
men  of  larger  experience — sei  iui^  the  difficulties 
involved  in  this  |iosition,  prudently  assumed  other 
i^rounds.  The  former,  it  seems  to  me,  are  involved 
in  a  dilemma  of  sin:^-ular  difficulty  and  emliarrass- 
meiit.  I  propose  to  examine,  i'nv  a  ft  w  niomeiits, 
the  position  of  those  ;,^(ntlenun  who,  declarinj^ 
our  tii!(^  clear  and  un'|uestionfdile  to  the  whole 
of  ('r<'^on,  still  opiposc  the  trivin;^  of  tliis  notice, 
whereby  the  convention  of  joint  .icciipation,^as  it 
is  called,  shall  be  abroj;ated"  and  annuilfd.  This 
admission,  thu.^  unreservedly  male,  ou;,dit,  in  my 
judi^ineiit,  to  be  conclusive  upon  tl.e  gentlemen  inu- 


4 


k\n^,  it.  Tlicy ,  iit  Inast,  oucjlit  not  to  hesitate,  cither 
as  to  the  character  of  tlie  I'leaniires  called  for,  or 
ns  to  tiie  ]iro|"'r  tinu!  for  our  aclioii.  The  coiise- 
qticiicc  of  nsscrtin;;  rii:;htH  thus  clear,  ouglitiiol,  in 
iny  judLniient,  (o  be  the  siihject  of  iiujuiry  or  debate. 
If  the  whole  ofOrcLijon  be  rlcurhj  ouis,  then  1  sub- 
mit it  to  the  reason  and  ]ialriotisni  of  gentlemen, 
wliether  it  becomes  an  American  Congre.ss,  gravely 
and  with  .«olcmn  fear,  tod(dibt.'ratc  upon  the  conse- 
quences of  iis  action  in  respeci  to  a  foreign  Power. 


It  is  huniiliatini!;,  .sir — a  stain  upon  our  character — i  i,i<-i-iii^  ...   u.i.    ....^.      ^ -.  ■■ -, -  ■> 

n  re^iroach  upon  our  sovereigiuy.     In  this  aspect,    clearly  our  own,  in  the  extension  of  o>ir  laws,  and 


alarmed  imaginations  of  .so  many  genllenicn  a  war- 
like aspect  to  this  measure?  It  is  our  claim  to  the 
wltdk  of  (-)regon;  and  yet  many  of  these  same  gen- 
tlemen adinii  our  title  to  that  country  clear  and  in- 
dispntal)le.  I  repeat,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  it  is  not 
the  giving  of  the  notice  that  makes  war  a  remote 
or  even  po.ssibic  contingency  as  growing  out  of 
tliii^  (jucstion,  but  our  positive  claim  to  Oregon,  and 
the  measures  hereafter  contemplated  in  extend- 
ing over  it  the  jurisdiction  of  our  laws  and  the  sov- 
ereignty of  our  Hag.     To  legislate   over   territory 


in  the  eslablishmeiil  of  territorial  govenuuents,  13 
certainly  no  unfrequenl  or  unusual  ;ict  of  legisla- 
tion. It  is,  1  believ(!,  within  our  acknowledged 
jurisdiction  and  sovereignty,  am"!  to  be  deterred 
"from  its  exercise,  when  deniaiuled  by  the  wants  of 
our  citizens,  because  of  the  unfomided  )>retensions 
of  a  foreign  I'ower.  1  can  regaril  in  no  olhi^r  light 
than  a  shameful  al>andonmenl  of  the  right  itself. 
Om-  right  to  Oregon  admitted  as  clear,  in  iny  judg- 
ment, the  subject  now  under  consideration,  as  well 
as  all  the  measures  expected  to  follow,  become  acts 
of  usual  and  ordinary  legislation.  Uut  we  are  told 
thai  war  will  certainly  and  inevitably  follow.  Sup- 
pose it  does,  it  will  follow  unjustly  und  without 
caust — will  it  not?  And  must  we  halt  in  the  pros- 
ecution of  our  rights  ?  IVIustwe  refrain  from  the 
exercise  of  our  acknowledged  powers  because  war 
may  ensue?  It  is  a  degradation  and  a  reproach— 
an  acknowledgment  of  weakness  that  amounts  to 
a  virtual  surrender  of  our  sovereignty.  Sovereignty 
consults  only  its  own  interests  and  glory.  It  is 
the  sole  arbi'ter  of  its  own  rights.  It  exists  but  ni 
its  perfect  and  absolute  independence;  it  sullers  no 
inva-sion;  ii  can  survive  no  surrender. 

If  we  would  abandon  our  claim  to  tliat  portion 
of  Oregon  lying  north  of  the  Columbia  river,  gen- 
tlemen', 1  iun  confident,  would  not  then  see  in  this 
notice  to  dissolve  '>.e  convention  of  1H27,  tuiything 
alarming  or  warlike.  It  as.suines  tliat  character 
only  because  we  insist  upon  our  own.  England 
has  no  rinht — so  say  gentlemen  opposed  to  this 
notice;  ye7,  in  tlic  insolence  of  lier  })ower,  she  in- 
terposes her  pretensions,  and  bids  us  stand,  or  ad- 
vance at  our  peril.  Shall  we  stand  at  her  bidding, 
and  tamely  and  cowardly  surrender  our  rights? 
or  shall  we  vindicate  them  as  our  fathers  did,  by 
all  the  means  God  and  nature  has  (daced  in  our 
hands?  This  is  the  question,  and  the  only  ques- 
tion, our  cltuv  right  to  Oregon  admitted.  If,  in- 
stead of  lookiiii;-  to  the  interest  of  ou-  own  people, 
and  determining  what  is  expedient  and  proper  for 
thi.'ir  good,  we  arc  to  hv.  swayed  and  inlluene.ed  liy 
Huropean  cabinets,  and  European  threats,  where 
is  our  boa.sted  indeiiendcnce?  "What  can  England 
do  more  than  invade  our  "  clear  and  unqnestion- 
blc  "  riglils?  If  she  claimed  the  power  of  taxatiini 
it  would  be  no  more;  and  would  gentlemen  still 


us,  indeed,  in  any  in  which  the  subject  undin- con- 

Kideration  '.'an  be  vi(!wed,  it  presents  a  very  diller- 

cnt  question  from  a  declaration  of  war;  in  which 

light  too  many  gentli-nn-n  arcdis|>osed  to  regard  it. 
1  grant,   sir,  most   readily,   that   if  this  were  a 

proposition  in  din-ct  terms  to  declare  war  against 

Ciireat   Uritain  ;    if  it  even   were    a   measure    that 

gavi;  any  just  g.'ounds  or  provocation  for  such  a 

declaration  on  her  part — it  would  be  proper,  nay, 

sir,  it  would  lie  our  bounden  duly,  to  inquire  into 

the  condition  of  our  country,  its  resources  and  de- 
fences, and  carefully  to  estimate  the  strengtli  and 

power  of  our  adversary. 

Notwilhstaniling  ttie.  very   severe  attaclc   made 

upon  Sir  John  Falsta'a  last  evening,  by  the  gentle- 
man from  Ohio,  I   am   half  inclined   to  ado))t  the 

sentiment  so  olijectionable  to  iiiin,  "that  discretion 

i>  the  better  inirt  of  valor."     I  cannot  believe  that 

the  great  }ioet,  by  j)Uttiiig  these  words  into   the 

mouth  of  the  valiant  kniglit  of  the  tap-room,  in- 
tended to  condemn  so  %visea  maxim  of  iiuman  con- 
duct, but  merely  to  show  liow  an  arrant,  yet  in- 
genious, coward  could  r(;as()n  in  excuse  for  his 
cowardice.  I  agree,  .sir,  that  "discretion  is  the  bet- 
ter part  of  valor."  That  it  is  neither  wise  nor 
prudent  to  rush  blindly  into  a  war,  unjirepared  and 
comparatively  defenceless,  against  an  enemy  arm- 
ed at  all  points,  and  holding  as  it  were  in  his  hands 
all  the  elements'  of  destructive  warfare.  Such  a 
course,  I  repeat,  in  my  judgment  would  be  neither 
wise  nor  prudent.  It  would  be  as  much  wanting  in 
true  courage  as  it  lacked  in  sound  and  statesman- 
like jiolicy.  Before  I  would  vote  for  a  declaration 
of  war  against  a  powerful,  and  in  some  respects  a 
superior,  enemy,  I  would,  by  vigorous  and  en- 
larged preparati(nis,  ])lac.e  my  country  in  a  condi- 
tion to  carry  (ui  tlie  war,  when  decltired,  to  a  suc- 
cessful and  glorious  termination. 

Sir,  I  do  not  believe  that  war  will  come  of  this 
Oregon  difficulty,  if  promjit  and  ])rudent  measures 
are  adopted.  Certain  it  is,  that  tlie  resolution  upon 
your  table  gives  none,  not  the  slighest  grounds  of 
offence  towards  England.  In  truth,  if  the  position 
assumed  by  some  gendemcn  who  oppose  this  no- 
tice be  correct,!  shall  be  sustained  in  the  declara- 
tion that  the  resolution  now  under  consideration, 

as  also  all  the  metisures  that  are  expected  to  follow    „    ^ 

it,  are  within  the  ordinary  and  daily-exercised  i  coun.^el  supineness  and  delay  ?  Wcnild  they  still 
powers  of  this  Government.  No  one  has  gone  so  talk  of  the  dangers  and  horrors  of  war  ?  This  was 
fi\r  in  opposition  to  the  notice  as  to  pretend  that,  not  the  language  of  those  who  laid  deep  and  strong 
abstractly  and  ;)crsf,  it  gave  any  just  cause  or  prov-  the  fiuindations  of  the  Republic;  it  is  not  thus 
ocation  for  war.  This  is  contemplated  by  the  that  its  integrity  can^ be  maintained.  What  would 
very  terms  of  the  convention  itself.  The  right  of  i  be  our  position  before  the  civihzed  world  ?—as- 
cither  party  to  give  this  notice,  and  thereby  di.s-  .scrting  our  title  to  the  whole  of  Oregon  as  iiidis- 
Bolve  the  convention,  forms  one  of  its  express  and  putable  and  clear;  yet  hesitating,  through  fear,  to 
plain  stipulations.  It  cannot  be  that  war  is  appre- j  take  those  steps  demanded  by  the  wants  ol  our 
hended  from  acting  in  strict  conformity  with  the  citizens  and  enforced  by  every  consideration  of 
treaty  itself.     WJiat  is  it,  then,  tlial  gives  to  the    palriuti.-ini  and  public  duty.     Hul  1  um  told  that  it 


I 


I 


th 


n  a  war- 
Ill  Id  tlie 

iui(J   in- 

il  i.s  nut 

I  rtinote 

i;  out  of 

s^oii,  and 

c.\t(.nd- 

llic  sov- 

tcrrilory 

iws,  ami 

iiciits,  is 

'  l(!f;i.sla- 

\vli;il<;cd 

doti  nod 

wants  of 

innsions 

itT   li;:',lit 

I  i I. self. 

y judg- 

n,  as  well 

;(;oniu  acts 

,'c  are  told 

i)\v.    Sup- 

d  witlioiit 

tin;  pros- 

from  the 

cause  war 

cprciacli — ' 

inounlH  to 

ovcrei^nty 

iry.     It  is 

isis  but  in 

sulR'i-3  no 

lat  portion 
river,  gen- 
see  in  tiiis 
J,  anyiliing 
L  character 
England 
icd  to  this 
er,  she  in- 
and,  or  ad- 
Rr  bidding, 
ur  rii;hls  ? 
3rs  did,  by 
iced  in  our 
only  ques- 
;d.  If,  in- 
wn  ])eo})le, 
proper  for 
lu(Mic.ed  liy 
als,  where 
m  England 
inqiiestion- 
)f  taxation 
lenien  still 

I  tiiey  still 
Til  is  was 

and  strong 
f  not  thus 
'^hut  would 
orld  ? — as- 

II  as  indis- 
li'h  fear,  to 
Ills  of  our 
leration  of 
told  that  it 


is  not  through  fear,  but  from  policy,  that  this  no- 
tice slioitkl  b(!  withheld.  It  will  do  to  say  ho;  but 
will  ue  lj(!  believed?  Will  England  believe  us.' 
Will  the,  intelligent  Minislir.s  at  the  heads  of  the 
C«()v<;innicnts  of  iMirofK!  believi;  us.'  Can  we  make 
our  own  j>eople  so  believe.'  No,  sir,  rt  ly  upon  it, 
it  would  be  regarded  iis  a  subterfuge,  a  shelter  for 
our  shame,  and  the  true  reason  attributed  to  fear. 

Sir,  I  am  not  for  wiir.  If  such  a  spirit  is  at 
work  within  the.- e  walls,  I  symiiathi/.c  not  with 
it.  Peace,  v  it''  national  honor  and  individual 
liberty,  is  the,  nio.st  desirable  of  all  bles.sings.  The 
social,  moral,  anil  politii  al  triumphs  ol'  peace,  are 
far  more  glorious,  m  my  estimation,  thiui  all  the 
vielories  and  bloody  trophies  of  war.  I  look,  I 
confess,  with  deep  solicitude,  and  not  without 
Bcrioiis  apprehension,  to  the  influence  which  a 
war,  and  such  a  war  as  we  should  have  with  Eng- 
land, might  exi'rt  upon  the  haliils,  thoughts,  and 
feelings  of  our  people.  1  acknowledge  its  .■strong 
and  centralizing  tendencies,  its  wasteful  exti.iva- 
gance,  its  corrupting  and  demorali/.ing  influences. 
But  we  must  not,  because  of  these  dangers,  tann^- 
ly  submit  to  be  jilun^lered  of  our  rights.  I  trust 
we  shall  have  no  war.  In  truth,  I  do  not  appre- 
hend serious  danger  of  so  great  a  calamity.  The 
ugc  in  which  we  livi;  is  an  ;ige  of  peace.  The  be- 
nign influences  of  its  spirit  are  everywhere  setni 
find  fell.  Men  are  everywhere  engaged  in  the 
cultiviUion  of  art,  tind  the  peaceful  enterprises  of 
life.  I  am  for  peace.  But  if  it  has  eome  to  this, 
that  we  cannot  assert  our  "  clear  and  unquehlion- 
able  "  rights  in  that  mode  that  we  deem  best  cal- 
culated to  promote  the  interest.«<  of  our  country  and 
the  good  of  our  people,  without  involving  us  in 
war,  then,  sir,  let  it  come.  AVar,  uiuler  such  cir- 
cumstances, ceases  to  be  an  evil,  and  becomes  ;i 
good.  Patriotism  and  religion  alike  sanction  and 
aanctify  it. 

Mr.  Chairman,  my  constituents  arc  for  peace. 
Thoy  are  cmjdiatically  a  peace-lovinij  peo|)le. 
Aliich  has  Veen  said,  in  the  course  of  this  debate, 
about  individual  atid  national  honor.  I  am  not 
insensible  to  the  claims  of  true  national  honor. 
Its  preservation  I  acknowledge  as  one  c)f  tlie  high- 
est duties  of  freemoii.  ?tly  consiituents,  however, 
do  not  war  in  individual  strife  upon  men  jwiiits 
of  honor;  nor  would  they  justify  me  in  iilunging 
their  country  into  war  on  some  uhstruct  idea  or 
point  of  national  honor.  If  there  is  nothing  in  this 
controversy,  no  substantial  and  valuable  rights, 
no  principles  dear  to  the  American  heart,  tlien  let 
us  have  done  with  it.  But  if,  upon  tlie  otlur  hand, 
there  are  rights  and  jtrinciples  involved,  deeply 
affecting  onr  interests  and  sovcri'ignty,  then,  sir, 
I  answer  fir  my  constituents,  that  neither  as  in- 
dividual.s  nor  us  citizens  will  they  submit  to  an 
as.-'ault  upon  that  honor  that  invidveS  a  surrender 
of  their  rights.  It  does  not  become  the  sons  of 
the  land  of  Penn  to  boast  of  their  courage.  They 
preserve  their  honor  and  tlieir  self-resjiect  from 
that  exposure  that  takes  mortal  ofl'em  e  at  slight 
and  trivial  causes;  but  they  suiTir  no  invasion  of 
their  acknowled;;ed  rights.  Abridi;e  the  freedom 
of  speech  or  of  the  press;  assail  the  rights  of  con- 
science; let  a  foreign  Power  invade  the  freedom  of 
the  seas,  or  our  own  absolute  sovereignty  over  our 
own  .^oih  and  my  life  u)ion  it,  so!)cr,  quiet  Penn- 
sylvania will  not  be  found  last  in  the  rally  or  (list 
in  the  retreat.    These  arc  the  great  ideas  that  Penn 


brought  with  him  when  he  came  to  jilant  a  colony 
and  to  found  a  State.  ^Ve  received  them  from  our 
fathers,  and,  by  the  blessing  oftjod,  we  will  trans- 
mit them  to  our  children.  All  our  iileas  of  exist- 
ence are  insiparaljle  from  these  great  personal  and 
political  rights,  f'ut  off  iVom  them,  life  would  be 
insupporiable,  and  d'.'ath  in  their  defence  a  bless- 
ing rather  than  a  Hai;rifice. 

Oregon  our.s — so  admitted,  .so  conceded — and 
this  is  no  longer  a  (;ontroversy  for  a  strip  of  land 
of  two  or  three  ilegrees  (jf  latitude.  It  a.-<sumea 
an  impoitani'e  infinitely  above  and  beyond  all  con- 
sideraiions  of  iiiine  roods  and  acre.s  of  land.  It 
becomes  an  attempt,  on  the  part  of  Clreat  Britain, 
to  overawe  us  in  the  prosecution  of  our  rights,  to 
invade  our  sovereignty,  to  degrade  and  lower  our 
national  character.  I  call  upon  gentlemen,  who 
have  made  the  broad  admission  of'  our  clear  and 
unt|ueslionabIe  right  to  the  whole  of  C>regon,  to 
i  come  up  to  the  support  of  the  resolution  now  u|)on 
I  your  tal.'le.  "Whoever  else  falters,  they  should 
not. 

I  deeply  regret  the  course  of  a  portion  of  my 
southern  politiial  friends  upon  this  (|uesiion.  I 
doubt  not  but  they  arc  actuated  by  as  jmre  a  pa- 
triotism, as  high  aseiise  of  public  duty, as  myself; 
but  it  would  have  given  me  great  pleasure  to  have 
seen  the  republican  meinb(;rs  of  tins  House  united, 
I  toil  man,  on  this  great  (|ueslioii.  This,  sir,  is  no 
]  party  (|ueslion,  but  one  of  deep  national  concern. 
'■  God  forldd  that  1  shtnild  invoke  the  spirit  of  party 
1  ill  its  discussion;  but  I  may  say,  what  1  earni  sily 
I  feel,  that  it  would  have  tilliu'ded  me  sincere  grati- 
j  filiation  to  have  seen  the  party  to  which  1  belong, 
iiiul  which  I  honestly  believe  to  be  the  great  party 
I  of  progrt:ss — the  true  American  party  of  the  coiui- 
I  try — firmly  united  in  support  of  this  measure.  Sir, 
I  am  no  croaker  against  the  South.  1  have  sul- 
fe!<?d  abuse  for  the  defence  of  her  constitutional 
rights.  My  iiome  is  in  the  North.  I  love  it-s 
green  hills  and  (|iiiet  valley-~<.  I  would  not  exchange 
its  rugged  soil,  that  invites  to  lalior,  and  begets  n 
noble  spirit  of  self-dependence,  f  m-  the  fertile  and 
luxuriant  plains  of  tlie  sunny  Soutli.  I  would 
not  exchange  systems  of  labor,  nor  those  stern 
and  (|uiet  virtues  of  the  North,  for  all  theehiviilry 
and  nice  honm'  of  the  South.  Yet,  sir,  1  am  not 
insensible  to  the  claims  of"  the  South  upon  my 
afl'ei'tion  and  resp.ect.  She  hasconiributed  hirgely 
to  fill  up  the  measure  of  our  national  glory.  Her 
blood  and  her  treasure  has  been  freely  iioured  out 
in  the  day  of  peril  atid  of  our  country's  grttitest 
need.  I  liold  in  profound  respei  t  the  names  of 
her  great  slatesmen,  living  and  dead.  I  have  drawn 
largely  t'rom  their  teachings  in  the  building  up  of 
my  politiiuil  faith.  I  cherish  and  respect  them  for 
their  iible  vindication  of  the  great  doctrines  of  the 
repuijliean  school,  their  fearless  defence  of  the 
rights  of  the  States,  and  their  waichful  Jealousy 
airainst  the  encroaclmiciits  of  the  Federal  power. 
When  the.  North  ;ind  the  East  were  rushing  on 
towards  consolidation,  the  South  stood  like  a  wall 
of  fire  in  their  path.  The  South,  sir,  has  done 
much  for  the  cause  of  republican  princiides,  and 
of  constitutional  government. 

I  have  said  that  1  do  not  believe  that  war  will 
come  of  this  mea.sure.  Is  it  not  a  litile  remark- 
able, that  while  gentlemen  are  prognosticating  war 
on  tliis  floor,  English  statesmen,  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  do  not  seriously  anticipate  such  on  event. 


I 


»5 


6 


'1 

! 


ITcrc.  till'  Mr.5S:i'rf  I'l"  ilic  PrcHiilciii  is  Innlccd  u|i(ii) 
(IS  II  sf/iiii-(|c('!:ir;iiii)ii  111"  u;ir.     Ill  i;iii:l,ii!(l,  it  is 

rit;;i|'(k(|  ;i.s  (Iccidcdiy   |iac|lir.       All  III"   lili'    I'lll'^iisll 

|i:i|ii'i-s  lu'<iiii;lit  liy  ill''  Inlf  sli  .iiiicr,  u]iuii  tlic 
wlidlc,  s|M'ak  dl'  ilii!  idiic  dt'  ilic  Picsidnil '.s  Mcs- 
saiif  iiH  IliVdi'iiliN'  to  the  |i(:ic(' dt' llic  twd  cdiiiillics. 
J'",vciy  iiiiiii-aiidii  dl'  inililir  dpiiii'iii  in  Mii'.rl.'iinl, 
>Mii(l,  iiinri'  liiiiii  all,  ilic  rccciil  nidvniiciits  in  the 
I'ritisii  miiiisiry,  |idiiil  to  jicacc,  and  iidt  td  war. 
I  liclicvc — at  least  I  have  sd  niidM'sldud — that  the 
main  dillii'idly  cncoiintriTd  l.y  Lord  .Idlni  Hnsscll, 
in  iiis  ( lldi'ts  td  t'drni  a  raliinct,  arosn  out  of  a  fiiiii 
(Irtt  riuiiiatiiM),  dii  tiic  |iarl  dfeiiiinciii  Driiisii  statcs- 
iiicn,  Id  (Id  iidlhiiiLC  that  shutild  lead  to  u  ru|i|iir(' 
hrlui  cii  ihc  tWd  cduiilrifs.  Wlial  were  the  liTduiid:-! 
ol'llic  nriisal  dl' Ldiij  Lrit'v  Id  ac'iT|it  ol'a  |ilai'('  in 
Ldrd  .Idhn  Uusscli's  caiiiiKif  If  1  have  iindcr- 
s'lddd  ai'ii^lit,  (ihdim^li  i  cdiii'iss  I  am  iidt  iniii  !i  in 
the  way  id'  roiTfct  iiifdriiiaiidn  on  snidi  niattn's,) 
it  was  liccausi;  Lnrd  PaliiitTsidii  was  td  he  |ilai('il 
at  tl'f  head  dt"  ilii>  I''drri::ii  dlllrc — a  man  kiidwn 
td  hi'  iiiifi-icndly  Id  iliis  cdiiiiiry,  and,  nidic  than 
that,  kiidwn  td  1)1'  pdniiiiilifd  iiiinn  this  very  rims- 
tidii  in  a  nianiu'i'  to  iirvidndi'  an  aniiialilc  ailjiist- 
1111  III  dl'  it.  Vet,  <;-ciitl(iiirn  persist  in  ilic  crv  ol' 
war,  war,  as  if  it  were  ai  diir  very  diidi's.  "NV'liat 
liavc  we  Id  ('ear  frinn  wai',  so  iniu'h  nmre  than  imr 
ailversary,  that  we  shunld  seeni  it  at  a  disiaiice, 
jtiid  creaie  a  iiaiiic,  even  heCdre  its  lii'sl  iniillerinL',-'< 
are  heard?  If  indeed  the  day  has  cdnie  fur  the 
siruireli'  lietween  nidiiaiTliii'al  jiowers  and  re|iul)- 
lii'an  |iriiii'i|iles,  lei  us  breasi  the  .slididx,  as  lieeoine 
the  sdiis  (d'  lierdic  .sires,  'riie  re)niiilii;  is  in  her 
Vduth,  and  th<>  \i<j;nr  of  her  sirenuth.  I'lie  Inx- 
m-idiis  vii'cs  of  wealth  have  not  ([ueiiched  the  pa- 
triotism, dr  onei-vaU'd  the  eiieri'-y  id' her  sons.  I'el- 
ter  now  the  ('(mllii't  than  wliiii  enfeoiikd  liy  thi^' 
^  ii'es  and  infirmities  of  a::p. 

1  have  lieen  pained  to  hear  llmse  e\travai;a.nt 
fuld^ies  of  the  pdwer  of  Gi-eai  fjritair.  u'  cdmiex- 
idii  witii  so  unjust  ii  depreciation  <  irenath 

niid    resdiures   of  our  own   countr,  wc    we 

grown  Sd  fei  hie  within  the  la.st  thirty  yc.us.-  Em;- 
land  gained  iid  advantau'i'  over  tis  in  tlii^  war  of 
]S]r2.  She  was  beaten  iiodn  the  land  aiitj  the  sea. 
Our  irallaiit  navy  wmi  for  ilself  and  tlu^  country 
luulyiiiL;'  reiidwi;.  I'he  application  of  steam  pow- 
er to  shipps-of-war  will  doiihlk'ss  work  a  ureat 
chanue  in  naval  warfare;  and  I  reiriTt  that  truth 
compels  the  aeknowled::;mcnt  of  the  vast  superior- 
ity id'  L-liiLiland  in  this  respect.  It  is  a  shame,  sir, 
that  we  have  lieeii  so  unmindful  of  the  true  inter- 
est of  our  country  in  this  particular.  We  want  a 
more  elHcii  nt  navy  :  it  i.s  demanded  liy  the  present 
condition  of  ihe  world.  Our  vast  commercial  in- 
terests— the  position  we  occupy  in  the  u'reat  fami- 
ly of  nations — most  imperatively  demand  that  we 
should  arm  for  our  jtrotection  and  defence.  Ens:- 
land  is  armiiii;'  lo  the  t<  elh.  Her  Vvarliki'  i)repa.- 
rations  are  u|ion  a  s'-,a!e  unparalleled  in  her  histo- 
ry. France — once  her  imnlacaide  foe.  imw  her 
apiiarent  ally — has  also,  within  the  last  few  ye:irs, 
added  vastly  lo  her  naval  and  military  esiaMish- 
nieiiis.  Can  we,  sir,  in  Justice  to  ourselves,  or 
with  safety  to  om-  country,  longer  remain  indilfer- 
eiit  to  these  .si;i-nificant  and  portentous  preparations 
of  the  two  j^reat  Powers  of  Euro|ie?  Enuhmd 
coiihl,  this  day,  strike  a  li'ow  that  would  desolate 
our  entire  seaboard,  and  lay  wasti^  our  ciiies.  Our 
(lelcuoelcss  cundition  but  invites  attack.  We  must 


perfect  oni' coast  and  Inrbru' delVnces.  Anxious 
for  jieace,  we  must  prepare  t'orwar.  We  want  iio 
increase  of  the  army.  I''dr  all  the  purpdses  nf  land 
defence,  we  ha\e  a  sure  and  sale  reliance  in  tin; 
patriotism  and  valor  of  our  people.  I  verily  be- 
lieve, sir,  that,  at  this  ('ay,  we  iiave  the  slronirest 
military  force  for  '!:"  uurposes  ofdef(.'nce  ofaiiy 
nation  (in  the  ylnbe.  ''I'lie  military  puwer  of  Jmi- 
ropean  Governments  is  estimated,  and  justly  so, 
by  the  numbers  of  their  siandinu''  armies  ;  ours,  by 
the  iiumbi  r  nt'  our  vi;;oroiis  and  able-bodied  citi- 
zens; evei'yoiie  of  whom  is  a  better  soldier,  in  the 
stron.!:  and  determined  purpose  of  ii  brave  heart, 
than  the  trained  mercenary,  hired  and  paid  by 
kiliLJs.  I  believe  the  i;allanl  West  alone,  fnmi  the 
(;neri;y  and  dariivj'  of  her  smis,  friini  llieir  hiuli 
and  iidble  bearin^■,  cduld  drive  bai  k  the  invadiii'.: 
iiosis  of  Britain.  No,  sir,  we  want  no  increase  of 
the  standing  military  i'nvt'c  of  the  coui'try,  except 
it  may  be  a  rej;inieiit  or  two  stationed  alont;  the 
route  lo  Oregon;  bill  We  do  want  a  siroimcr  naval 
establishment.  Il  is  necessary  f<'f  the  protectioii 
ol'dur  cdinmerce  and  our  coast.  Il  is  alsd,  in  my 
opinion,  ikinanded  as  a  sound  measure  of  jiiiblii; 
economy.  Nations,  not  untVe(|uenlly,  sull'er  more 
in  the  sacrifices  they  make,  because  of  their  weak- 
ness, liiaii  all  ilie  cost  of  maintaiiiiii';;  streni;tii. 
How  was  it  diirin^^  the  late  wars  of  Europe?  Our 
commerce  plundered  on  every  sea,  our  seanii  n 
impressed — imiil  aLii^ravaled  injuries  compelled  us 
td  a  declaralidii  iif  war.  A  navy  adeipiate  to  the 
proleciidii  of  our  commerce  and  seamen,  nii;;ht 
have  s.aved  us  from  the  iie<'essily  ot' that  declara- 
tion, and  the  (ioiintry  froni  the  blood  and  treasure 
it  cost.  Ilely  upon  it,  no  nation  ever  yet  lost,  in 
the  lout;  run,  by  beinu:  prepared  at  all  times  to 
maintain  its  riu'his.  I  do  not  believe  that  we  shall 
have  war;  but  if  we  do,  I  i^qve  it  as  my  deep  and 
sdlenin  conviction,  that  it  will  be  providvcil  and 
brought  upon  us  by  our  wiakness  in  this  respect. 
Give  us  a  navy  aderpuite  for  the  protection  of  our 
coast,  and  able  to  carry  the  war  into  Africa,  and 
all  damper  of  war,  if  any  exists,  will  imniediaudy 
vanish.  Thus  )>rotected,  and  thus  able  to  "ivo 
annovance  to  our  enemy,  and  war  will  not  come. 
Let  l-]n!,^land  see  and  fei'l  that  war  with  us  would 
pi^ril  her  vast  Cdir.nierce — av,  sweep  it  fnun  the 
seas — and  she  will  not  make  v\ar  fur  the  Oregon. 
Sir,  I  i;^o  for  an  increase  of  the  navy,  and  also 
for  a  correction  of  its  abuses.  It  is  pi-e<:;nant  with 
the  most  o'l-oss  and  alarino:  abuses,  and  at  a  proper 
time,  if  opportuniiy  oll'i  r,  I  intend  to  raise  my 
voice  for  their  correction.  I  would  urge  an  in- 
crease of  the  navy,  not  as  a  war,  but  as  a  peace 
measure — as  a  sure  and  safe  iruaranty  for  perma- 
nent and  continued  peace.  AVe  want  a  stron.':,(>r 
navy,  to  ijiiard  against  the  hazards  of  European 
wars,  even  ihouirli  we  should  not  be  directly  in- 
vohed  in  them,  as  one  of  the  belligerent  parties.  It 
would  insure  |>rotectioii  to  our  commerce,  and  re- 
spect to  our  fla'^.  No  man  can  be  more  opjiosed 
than  myself  to  the  expenditure  of  vast  sums  of 
money  in  supporting;  lari^e  naval  and  military  (s- 
tablishnieiits;  but  the  jireseiit  is  a  crisis  in  the  iiis- 
tory  of  this  country:  in  it,  sir,  are  the,  issues  of 
hfe  and  death.  The  result  of  this  conlrover.sj'- 
will  determine  for  all  comins;  time  whether  we  arc 
to  hold  a  secondary  place,  or  assume  the  first  rank 
in  the  fimily  of  nations.  En;:;laiid  stands  clothed 
in  complete  armor.     While  we  hope  for  tlie  best, 


i 


Anxious 

/(•  Willi  I  (III 

ISIS  (if  land 
iincc  in  tlie 
I  v<'i'ily  l)e- 
(■  sir()iii';('.st 
iii-c  iiraiiy 
\cr  of  Kii- 

jlistly  so, 
s  ;  (iiirs,  liy 
liodicd  cili- 
dicr,  in  tlie 
lave  heart, 
.1  paid  by 
I',  fVoni  llic 

tlu'ir  lii^h 
k;  invadini;; 
increase  of 
ly,  except 

I  uluHi;  f!u! 
in:^er  naval 

proiectidii 
ilsii,  in  my 
■e  o('  pill, lie 
aill'er  more 
heir  wi'ak- 
:  streiiiith. 
rope?  Our 
;ir  seaini  n 
lapelled  us 
lati'  to  the 
len,  nii^^lit 
at  declara- 
k1  ti-easuj-e 
•el   lost,  in 

II  times  to 
It  ■we  shall 
■  deep  and 
■ok(Ml  and 

is  ITSpeet. 

ion  of  our 

J'rica,  and 

mediately 

le   to  nivc 

not  conic. 

ns  wduld 

from   the 

e  ()r(>£^on. 

,  and  also 

^nant  with 

t  a  jiroper 

raise   my 

'j:v  an  in- 

s   a  peace 

or  ]ierma- 

i   stronger 

iMiropean 

irecily  in- 

irlies.      It 

e,  and   re- 

'  opposed 

sums  of 

iliiary  f-- 

n  the  his- 

issues  of 

iitroversy 

ler  we  arc 

first  rank 

lis  cldtlU'd 

thu  best, 


let  UH  satraciolisly  prepare  for  tlie  -worst.  A  little 
well-linii'd  preparaiion  may  avert  the  calamity  we 
dread,  it  Wdiilil  he  a  more  |)ii|ential  m;;umeni  m 
fasor  (d'  our  ri^ht  to  Oregon,  ilian  all  the  o\er- 
whclmiiiu  la  "Is  iirned  by  our  alile  negotiators  who 
have  had  llu-.  sulijeci.  in  charije.  IJytliiis,  1  mean, 
sir,  that  it  would  (|uickeii  the  moral  perceptions  of 
!Mii;laiid,  and  enahle  her  the  h 'Iter  to  hcu  and  ap- 
preciate the  justice  of  our  demiuids.  No  nut  ion 
ever  yet  lost  in  nci^otiation  Ijy  heiuLT  prc'jiared  to 
defend  its  riniits. 

Let  this  iiolici!  hi'  i2;iven.  When  did  a  disputed 
ri_;lil  u'.on  slrennth  by  delay  ?  lam  not  prepareil 
ul  this  lime  to  assert,  as  some  havt;  done,  lliiit  our 
tillc  lo  till'  vliiilv  of  Origon  h  clear  and  tinijiivslinii- 
ulili';  but  this  much  1  can  say  with  ('onfulenci!,  that 
every  year  delay  will  weaken  our  title,  wliih,'  En<^- 
laiid  will  ijrow  more  and  more,  exorbitant  in  her 
di'iiiaiids.  Let  this  controversy  be  s|)ee(li|y  settled 
by  negotiation  if  it  <;an,  or  by  an  a|i|)eal  to  arms  if 
it  must.  AVlnle  1  Ixdieve  our  title  the  better  to  the 
whole  of  (1re.;on,  1  do  not  think  it  so  clear  as  to 
preclude  further  nej^otiation  and  an  amicabiu  ud- 
justinent,  if  it  can  Im  honorably  elle<',ted.  I  can 
clearly  see  in  the  President's  Alessaije  an  earnest 
desire  and  hope  that  it  will  be  so  .•■'ettleil.  All  of 
the  correspondence  of  oiir  Secretary  of  State  i;ivcs 
to  England  the  stron:;est  assuraiic<;  of  the  anxiety 
of  our  (jovernment  to  settle  this  (|U''stioii  by  ne^^o- 
liation.  It  initst  he,  therefore,  that  there  is  some- 
tliiair  in  this  Urci^oii  controv(;rsy  about  which  we 
may  hnivrahUj  ni:^;otiate.  "('tear  and  unqurstlan- 
ablv"  rin'htH  are  lhinL,^s  of  a  stroiiLT  and  niicompi'o- 
laisin;^  nature;  they  cannot  be  impaired,  compro- 
mised, or  even  made  the  snbji'ct  ol'  nei^otiation, 
without  a  loss  of  that  hii;ii  character  that  this  na- 
tion should  ever  maintain.  If  our  ri:;ht  to  the 
n-iiole  of  Orei;'on  be  of  this  nature,  then  J  fear  me 
that  the  stain  of  dishonor  is  already  indelibly  fix<'d 
upon  my  country.  I{i!:;hts  of  this  character  are 
not,  I  repeal,  tin.'  subject  of  nei;otiation,  but  of  en- 
joyment ;  or  it'  invaded,  •)(' battle  to  the  death.  Siip- 
])ose  England  should  claim  that  our  preircnt  revenue 
laws  were  so  serious  a  cloij  ii|)on  her  commerce 
and  manufactures  as  that  sin;  would  make  it  acause 
of  war  unless  our  tariff  was  reduced  :  would  we 
listen  to  such  arrogance,  and  propose  nei^oriation 
for  the  setthjinont  of  such  pretensions?  What 
means  this  nei,''otiation  for  the  last  twenty-seven 
years?  What  these  three  distinct  oilers  to  com- 
promise on  the  41)ih  parallel  (d'  north  latitude?  I 
am  forced,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  the.  belief  that  there 
arc  t|UCstions  of  doubt  and  dilficulty  surroundini; 
our  title  to  a  portion  of  this  territory,  or,  to  adojit 
'.]■-<■■  ether  aUernaii\e,  that  my  ciaiiitry,  to  lierevi  i- 
InsliiiL"'  shame,  has  thret?  times  offered  to  purchase 
]ie:v<i;  at  th(!  exj)ense  of  a  surrender  of  her  unqiirs- 
tionahlc  rifi;tit:i.  Is  our  title  to  the  ?c/i(i/e  of  Orciron 
clear  beyond  doubt  or  question?  If  so,  why  does 
the  Messaije  of  the  President,  and  the  correspond- 
ence of  Mr.  Buchanan,  still  hold  out  an  amicable 
.•jcttlemcnt  by  negotiation?  If  there  is  nothing 
about  which  men  may  tairly  dispute,  then,  sir,  we 
have  been  dishonoriid  long  enouudi  by  negotiation. 
Let  us  have  no  more  of  it.  Let  the  next  note  of 
the  British  Plenipotentiary  be  returned  unopened, 
with  the  answer  that  our  clear  and  Indisputable 
rights,  if  invaded,  are  settled  by  the  sword.  Sup- 
pose, sir,  that  England  should  aci'edc  to  the  offer 
we  have  three  times  made:  could  we,  as  a  just 


'and  higii-minded  nation,  refuse  its  ncceptnnce.' 
Could  we  eNpeci  the  moral  semimeiilM  of  the  w  orld 
to  sustain  us  m  a  war  under  soeh  eirriimsiaiii'es? 
Could  ue  iii\ok,'  upon  our  arms  the  bks.sini;  ol'  tho 
Liod  ol'  hosts  .- 

i  While  1  hope  for  an  amicable  setlleinent  of  this 
dilUculty,  1  am  fullv  satisfied  that  we  I'an  expect 
no  good  from  furlner  negotiation,  in  the  presi  nt 
altitude  of  this  (|ueslion.  Twenty-seven  y(ars(d' 
iien'oiiaiion,  under  the  conventions  of  IMi-i  and 
I  IH:.'?,  ha\e  resulted  in  nothiiuv,  uiile;s  it  be  to 
;  weaken  the  force  of  our  title  by  three  oilers  to 
I  ('(mipriHinse  on  the  liiu!  of  ihe  4!lih  parallel  of  lati- 
tude. What  can  we  expeci  from  further  ncrotia- 
i  lion  under  such  circumstances?  If  ne;::oiialioii  i.i 
I  to  be  renewed,  as  I  doubt  not  it  will,  let  it  lie  under 
I  other  and  different  auspices — such  as  shall  produce 
a  speedy  setilement  of  this  coiit|-overs\'.  Lit  it 
I  li'j  renewed  luider  u  notice  to  dissolve  the  existing 
convention.  Let  ste|is  iminetliuti  ly  be  taken  to 
s(;cure  a  safe  journey  to  our  enmirants  on  their 
way  to  Oreufon;  by  thu  rreeti  )n  of  liloclchouses 
ami  .stockade  forts  on  the  line  of  their  route.  liaise, 
a  couple  of  reginu;nt.-i  of  mounted  men,  to  guard 
their  path  from  the  surprise  and  ambush  of  tln^  In- 
dian; build  forts  in  ()i(i;on  itself  for  tlie  inoieclion 
of  our  settlers  in  their  new  hoims.  Do  these 
things,  sir.  England  has  dune  all  this  throiii^di 
her  Hudson  Pay  Company;  and  if  it  is  no  infrac- 
tion of  the  convention  for  her  to  do  it,  neither  is  it 
for  us.  Extend  the  protection  of  your  laws  over 
our  citizens  in  that  country;  establish  a  monthly 
mail  communication;  carry  out  that  mo.''t  wise  rei - 
ommenihition  of  the  I'residiiit,  in  the  establish- 
meiit  of  an  Indian  auency,  under  the  su|ieriiiiend- 
ence  of  a  iiruilent  and  saicacioiis  man,  throiiirl^ 
which  this  ( iovermuent  can  cultivate  friendly  rela- 
tions with  the  savaLce  tribes  of  that  country;  and, 
above  all,  Mr.  ('hairman,  let  not  Congress  adjourn 
without  providing  means  for  perfeclinir  our  coast 
di'fcnces,  and  jmlting  afloat  a  more  elacient  navv, 
augmi'iiiini,''  our  pre.-seiit  establishment  by  a.  stroi'er 
steam  marine  force;  and  then,  sir,  ji('ge/((//c.  'I'lien, 
and  not  till  then,  will  wc  be  in  a  coiulilion  to  settle 
t!iis  tpiestion  favorably  to  the  interests,  or  with 
honor  to  the  country.  1  have  great  confidence  that 
renewed  negoliation,  opened  tnuler  such  circuin- 
slances,  would  result  in  a  ."^peedy  and  lionorable 
seitlement  of  our  territoi-ial  rights  in  Oreiron.  Eii'.;- 
land  will  not  recede  so  long  as  the  )ire<ent  stat<'  of 
things  continue.  Why  should  she?  She  is  in  the 
enjoyiuent  of  all  she  asks,  as  fully  as  if  we  had 
made  a  formal  surrender  of  the  country  north  of 
the  Columbia.  She  is  strengthening  lierselt'  in  her 
jif.ijscijsions  north  of  that  riv(  r,  taking  i:'./od  care, 
throuirh  her  Iludson  Pay  Company,  to  eoiifine 
our  settlements  to  thi'  south.  It  i.^  idle  to  expect 
a  settlement  under  such  eircumi'taiici «.  Eim-laiid 
has  the  game  all  in  her  own  hand.  Let  us  block 
it,  sir,  by  uivin^'  this  notice,  and  carrying  out 
promiitly  all  the  reconuuendatioiis  of  the  President 
relating  to  this  subject. 

Mr.  Chairman,  1  a^rree  v.ith  tlie  President,  in 
the  hope  of  a  pea"eful  settlement  fif  this  Oregon 
difaculty.  and  have  irreater  confidence  that  it  will 
be  so  settled,  if  we  act  firmly — none,  sir,  if  timid 
iind  irresolute  counsels  iirevail.  Put,  sir,  I  am  not 
in  favor  of  any  scttlcnuMit  that  shall  irive  tu  Eng- 
land the  valu;d)le  harbors  of  Piiget's  sound.  I 
regard  them  as  the  keys  of  the  Pacific — the  ports 


8 


that  luc  lo  cominan<l  tlii  vast  commcrre  of  ilic  In- 
dies. Asia,  sir,  at  lliis  nioiuniil,  tiprris  a  fit  Id  for 
Cdiiiinci'cial  ciiltrpriNi',  more  vast  and  valuable  to 
us  than  all  the  oliuir  i,'rc.ai  divisions  of  llie  wcn'ld. 
i-'.astfrn  A.'^ia  alone,  and  tlie  islands  adjiicent,  are 
tlironi;('d  and  crowded  sviili  near  iiaif  the  world's 
j)o|iuliition.  'I'licir  iiroductions  and  manufiicliires 
are  of  uniKnialled  value;  and  tiieir  artisans  are 
sLillrd  in  llu;  most  rare  and  curious  wnrkinan8lii|). 
What  a  field  for  ent(tr|irisc  I  Wluit  an  incxliaust- 
ihle  source  of  wealth  is  liere  opened  up  I  Tiie 
conmierce  of  the  western  coast  of  this  continetit  is 
destined,  i  firmly  believe,  to  exeeid  ihat  of  the 
eastern.  Tiirn^  are  thost;  whose  eyes  now  opcni 
to  sunlifrlit,  who,  accordiiifr  li»  our  ratio  of  in- 
crease, for  the  last  fifly  years,  will  live  to  see  our 
population  reach  Ijclweeii  one  hundred  and  fifty 
and  two  hundred  millions.  When  tiiis  fjrrat  re- 
sult is  realized — and  that  it  will  be,  statistics 
prove — then,  sir,  a  vast  and  l)usy  population  will 
ihroni;'  the  shores  of  tln^  Pacific.  'J  Urn  the  seat  of 
commercial  empire  will  be  transferred  from  the 
cast  to  the  west.  Europe  jt.  duces  a  lari^e  sur- 
plus of  all  the  threat  staple  uiaiuifactures  of  inm, 
wool,  and  cotton.  We  can  find  no  market  tlierc 
except  for  the  raw  material  of  cotton  and  a  limit- 


ed quantity  of  our  .surplus  hread-itulTs.  Ka;itern 
Asia,  on  the  other  hand,  opens  a  market  both  for 
our  <j;raiM  and  sta|)le  manufactures  beyoiul  our 
power  to  i;lut,  if  not  to  supjily.  'I'his  vast  trade — 
this  ine.xhaustihle  ■  >urc(!  cd'  wealth — is  destined  in 
less  than  one  century  lo  choke  up  the;  ports  and 
harbors  of  l'u,i;et's  sound.  Slndl  England  have 
them,  and  thus  secure  for  all  comins;;  lime,  and  be- 
yond the  hop('  of  successful  eom|)elitiou,  her  com- 
nwrcial  ascendency?  Never,  sir,  while  this  repub- 
lic holds  a  place  in  the  family  of  nations.  Hero 
I  would  set  limits  to  neirotiation;  here  I  would 
make  my  idtimatum,  and  never  recede  one  inch, 
SI)  Inwj;  as  there  was  an  American  lu-m  to  strike 
a  blow  in  its  defence.  Without  lhe.se  harbors, 
Or.'ijon  is  comparatively  worthless;  with  them, 
Orei^ou  is  worth  a  war.  These  surreiulercd,  let 
New  York  and  IJoston  be  surrendered  with  them; 
these  lost,  and  all  should  be  lost. 

I  believe,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  have  said  all  that  I 
desired  to  say  upon  this  subject;  and  more,  I  fear, 
than  has  been  well  or  profitably  said.  1  sec  there 
are  some  five  minutes  of  the  hour  allotted  to  me 
yet  untold.  I  will,  however,  resume  my  seat, 
even  at  the  hazard  of  making  n  failure  instead  of 
a  siiee(;h. 


